In today’s era of social media, the phenomenon of sharenting – that is, parents publishing photos and stories from their child’s life – has become common. On the one hand, sharing achievements is a natural manifestation of parental pride, but on the other, it raises questions about the boundaries of privacy of the youngest.

According to the first report in Poland on sharing children’s images on the Internet, commissioned by Clue PR, 40% of Polish parents post photos and videos documenting the lives of their children, and the average number of photos uploaded per year by a parent is 72.

A child’s right to privacy is a topic that is gaining importance. The problem of sharenting in its various forms is also recognized by European courts. The Regional Court in Barcelona in its judgement of 2018 indicated, among others, that a child’s privacy and image are of paramount importance, and any publications that may violate their dignity, good reputation or act to their detriment are considered unlawful – even if the child or their legal guardians have given their consent. Sharenting has also been recognized by UNICEF as a serious threat to children’s privacy on the Internet.

So before you add another post, consider whether publishing the child’s image will bring more benefits or harm.